DIY / Home Improvement

How to Fix and Replace Broken Roof Tiles

With winter well out of the way and summer quickly approaching, now presents the perfect time to make those all-important home improvements that have been put off over the last few months, one of which is to check your roof for any broken tiles and fixing them. 

With strong winds and heavy rainfall, roof tiles are susceptible to damage, leading to a whole host of potential issues for you and your home. So, when the time is right, grab yourself a ladder and make your way to your roof for a full and thorough inspection! 

In this blog, we’ll run through the steps you’ll need to take to fix any broken roof tiles that you may come across. So, let’s get into it…

What you’ll need 

Before attempting to make way to your roof to fix and replace any broken tiles, it’s important to ensure that you have all of the necessary tools, equipment and materials needed to complete the job safely and efficiently.

Here is what you’ll need:

  • A hammer 
  • Pry bar 
  • Safety gloves 
  • Replacement roof tiles 
  • Nails (optional) 

Replacing your roof tiles

Now that you have all the tools and materials that you need, it’s time to make your way to the roof and replace any broken tiles. Here is a step-by-set guide on how to do it! 

Step One

The first step in replacing your broken roof tiles is to position your roof ladder in the proper way that allows you to make your way to the roof safely. Ensure your ladder is fit for purpose and that there are so visible signs of damage or wear and tear. Once you’re happy that your ladder is safe to use, it’s time to position it. 

Ensure your ladder is placed on flat, level ground to reduce the risk of your ladder tipping over whilst you are on it. If required, call a second person to come and hold the ladder steady whilst you climb up. 

Step Two 

Once you have made your way to your roof, it’s now time to identify the tiles that need replacing and remove them. Assuming your roof consists of interlocking tiles, you’ll simply need to lift away any overlapping tiles that may be holding the damaged tile in place. Once free, lift away the broken tile from the roof to create a gap. If the broken tile is secured with a nail, take your pry bar and lift the overlapping tiles and remove the nail before pushing them out of the way to free the damaged piece.

Step Three 

Once the broken tile has been removed and a gap in your roof has been created, you are now ready to replace it with a new tile. Here, you need to simply grab a new tile and slip it into the gap where your old tile used to be. Be careful to not damage your hands and fingers by wearing suitable safety gloves.

Step Four 

Now that the new tile is in position, the next thing to do is to make sure it is secured correctly. If your roof tiles are secured with nails, grab your hammer and a new nail and nail your tile in place. If your tiles are secured by overlapping tiles, ensure these are firmly in place on top of your new tile.

And that’s it! By following these simple steps, you will be able to replace any damaged tiles that you come across on your roof, preventing any potential problems later down the road, saving you another headache. 

We hope this blog has helped you to fix any problems that you may have had with your roof tiles, be sure to check back for more home improvement tips!

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